Brush dispenser



June 11, 1968 J. R. FOCHT 3,387,911

BRUSH DISPENSER MWWWW 30 m i W 3'9? 37 34 v at 38 v I.\"VE.\ZOR.

JOHN RICHARD FOCIIT 4 TTORNE Y3 United States Patent 3,387,911 BRUSHDISPENSER John Richard Focht, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Precision Valvetllorporation, Yonkers, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Get. 10,1966, Ser. No. 585,482 4 Claims. (Cl. 401190) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn applicator cap for a pressurized dispenser is comprised of tworelatively movable parts such that relative rotation of the parts willactuate the container valve thereby conveying product to the applicatormember.

This invention relates to a dispenser cap adapted to be associated witha pressurized aerosol dispenser of the kind which embodies a containeron which is mounted a manually operable dispenser valve provided with ahollow valve stem to be actuated by a valve operating member on theapplicator cap to discharge material from the container to theapplicator portion of the cap.

The dispenser cap of this invention is of the type which has anapplicator member for applying dispensed material and an associatedvalve operating member. The cap is comprised of two relatively movableparts, such that relative motion of the parts will depress the valvestem of the container mounted valve to actuate it thereby conveying theproduct from the interior of the pressurized container to the applicatormember. The applicator member of the cap of the present invention may becomprised of brush bristles, sponge, felt, pile fabric, an orifice orother means suitable for daubing, brushing, scrubbing, extruding,spraying or otherwise applying the dispensed product. The cap of thisinvention has application for dispensing a variety of materials such asstain removers, hair coloring foam, shoe polish, dye, cleaning agents,shaving foam, etc.

The combination in a cap of applicator means with valve actuating meansinvites inadvertent valve actuation when the user is attempting toemploy the applicator. For example, where the applicator is a brush andthe product is a stain remover, vigorous brushing may inadvertentlyactuate the valve, thereby unnecessarily dispensing further product.

The ability to lock the applicator cap against accidental actuation isfurther desirable since it permits the stacking of such cappedcontainers during display, transport, or storage without the possibilityof accidental discharge.

The ability to continuously supply product to the ap plicator at aconstant rate is of advantage in many applications. Heretofore,applicator means on a valve actuating cap for use with an aerosolcontainer had to be recharged with product intermittently. The resultwas uneven application due to the diminishment of the product in theapplicator. The flow rate should match the rate at which the product isused. No simple and economical means for securing continuous productflow has been available.

Since the rate at which product is extracted from the applicator duringuse may vary with the use and with the technique of the user, it isdesirable to provide various supply rates for charging the applicator.

Conventional vertical acting aerosol valves require vertical fingerforce to actuate the valve. This is usually accomplished by means of avalve actuation button or hinged tab which has a product dispensingorifice at more or less right angles to the motion of the valve. Wherethe actuator is also an applicator, it is evident that vertical fingerforce necessitates either placing the operative finger on the productsaturated applicator or an inconvenient resort to a ice surroundingfinger engaging surface. Therefore, a simple means to actuate a verticalmotion valve without contact ing the product present on the applicatoris highly desirable.

An objective of this invention is to provide a combination of anapplicator cap with a valve actuating member which prevents unwantedproduct dispensing.

More specifically, it is an objective of this invention to provide avalve actuating applicator which is capable of being locked in anon-valve actuating position.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide anapplicator cap which is capable of being locked in positions to providecontinuous dispensing.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will becomeapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claimswhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of theinvention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood asillustrative only, and not as defining limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section through an applicator cap embodyingthe present invention.

The following is a description of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. This embodiment uses a two-piece construction for anapplicator cap, and has brush bristles as the applicator member. Theentire cap including the brush is preferably molded from plastic.

FIG. 1 shows a cap body or base member 10 which is generally cylindricalin shape and has a snap bead 12 to facilitate engagement with a valvemounting cup 21 on a pressurized aerosol type container 20.Applicator-actuator member 30 is telescopically associated with basemember It to permit relative rotation as well as relative telescopiclongitudinal movement.

The base member 10 is shown as having an upstanding cylindrical wallhaving a skirt portion 13 with an internal bead 12 which is adapted tofrictionally engage the valve mounting cup 21 on the pressurizedcontainer 20. The upstanding wall 11 has lug members 15 which protruderadially inwardly.

The applicator, generally dcsignated as 30, is a one piece injectionmolded member having an upstanding cylindrical wall 39, flange 38 whichdepends from and is spaced outwardly from the wall 39; dimensionall thediameter of the wall 39 is constructed such that it is slightly smallerthan the Wall 11 of the body member 10 and the flange 38 is spaced fromthe wall 39 to receive the wall 11 such that upon actuation of the valvethe wall 11 may further recede or telescope into the space 34 betweenthe Wall 39 and the flange 38. A knurled surface 37 is provided on theflange 38 to assist the user in rotating the applicator member withrespect to the base member.

The wall 39 of the applicator member 30 has configured channels or slotsgenerally designated as 40. These slots are adapted to engage lugs 15 ofthe base member 19. The slots have a helical camming surface or ramp 41and terminate in circumferential locking positions or detents 42 and 43.Motion of the applicator 30 with respect to the base member 10 isrestricted to movement determined by the path defined by the slot 4-3and the associated lug 15.

Further, the applicator 30 has integrally molded brush bristles 35 onits top surface and a centrally located dependent valve actuating member31 having a valve stem receiving socket 32 and an internal product ductor passage 33 leading to distribution orifices 36 in the base region ofthe brush bristle group. The applicator cap ase member is shown in FIG.1 as being positioned ready for mounting on a conventional aerosolcontainer 3 20. The container 20 has a valve 23 carried by a valvemounting cup 21.

Dependent valve actuator member 31 has an internal product passage 33which leads from a valve stem receiving socket 32 to a bafile member 50which defines radial distribution orifices 36 at the base of the brushbristles. Bafiie plate 50 is supported by, and is integral with, aplurality of longitudinal ribs 51 on the inner wall of the productpassage. These ribs are tapered and achieve their maximum depth at theirjuncture with the bafiie plate. The ribs thereby define a plurality ofsmaller product channels within the upper end of the product passage.These product channels are diverted into a radial plane by bafiie plate50, thereby causing the prod uct which has travelled longitudinallythrough the product passage to spread radially throughout the baseregion of the bristles. This construction provides even dis tribution ofthe product in the applicator brush.

The applicator cap of this invention, constructed as described, ishighly convenient to use. To use this cap,

the operator rotates knurled portion 37 of the applicator member 30 withrespect to the base member 10. This rotation is translated intolongitudinal movement by means of the camming surface 41 of theconfigured slot 40. Lug 15 which fits into the slot causes the rotatingactuator member 30 to move longitudinally toward the valve stem, therebycausing valve actuating member 31 to force the valve stem 22 downwardlyto open the valve 23, thus providing a product conduit from the interiorof the pressurized container through the valve 23, the hollow valve stem22, and the product passage 33 of the valve actuating member 31 to thebafile member 50 in the base of the applicator brush. The product isthen diverted radially throughout the base region of the brush by theorifices 36 defined by the bafiie member 50. When sutficient productappears in the brush, the user rotates the knurled portion 37 of theactuator member 30 in the opposite direction, causing the actuatormember 30 to retreat outwardly from the base member by virtue of the lugand the camming surface 41 of the slot 40, thereby allowing thecontainer valve to close. Continued rotation of the knurled portion inthis direction causes the lug 15 to travel into the locking detent 42 ofthe slot 40, thereby preventing relative longitudinal movement of theapplicator member with respect to the base member. This locking featureprevents inadvertent actuation of the valve and permits the user freedomto rigorously employ the brush in scrubbing or otherwise applying theproduct.

Where it is desirable to provide continuous product flow to theapplicator, locking detents such as 43 and 44 may be provided atpositions along the camming surface 41 of the slot 40. Rotation of theactuator member in the operative direction causes actuation of the valvein the manner described above. Continued rotation in this direction willcause lug 15 to enter locking detent 43 and 44 of the slot 40 tomaintain the valve in an open condition. Thus, the user need not employfinger force to maintain a continuous flow of the product.

Where continuous flow at a rate less than the maximum is desired, one ormore intermediate locking detents such as 44 may be provided. The usermay thus select various continuous flow rates to match the rate at which4 product is extracted from the applicator during application.

It is obvious that the coacting slot 40' and lug 15' may be interchangedin position such that the lugs are formed on the applicator member 30and the slots are formed in the base member 10. Other modificationswhich provide cooperating elements which translate rotary motion intolongitudinal motion are within the purview of this invention. Suchalternatives would include slots or channels on both members with arollable ball captured within the slots to provide rolling contact, orpartial thread-like portions on both members, etc.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in apreferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fullycommensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A dispenser cap for a valved pressurized container.

comprising a body member attachable to a pressurized container, and avalve actuator member having a valve stem receiving socket incommunication with a product duct, said body member and said actuatormember being relatively movable and being telescopically associated bymeans of at least one protruding surface and helical cam surface whichsurfaces cooperate to describe a helical path for said relative motionsuch that relative rotation of the actuator member with respect to thebody member advances said actuator toward said container to actuate thecontainer valve.

2. The dispenser cap of claim 1, wherein said cooperating surfaces havedetent portions which permit locking said actuator against valveactuating motion.

3. The dispenser cap of claim 2 wherein said cooperating surfaces havefurther detent portions to retain said actuator member in a position tomaintain said container valve open.

4. An applicator cap for a valved pressurized container comprising, abase member for attachment to said container and a relatively movableactuator member having valve actuating means, applicator means, and aproduct duct communicating said valve actuating means and saidapplicator means, said base member and said actuator member beingassociated by means of helical slots and interfitting protrusions suchthat relative rotation of the actuator member and said base memberlongitudinally moves said actuator member to actuate said containervalve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,318 12/1936 Platt l55932,598,308 5/1952 Samuels et al. ZZZ-402.11 X 2,703,665 3/1955 Softer. etal. M 222-40111 3,093,857 6/1963 Hersh 15552 3,228,057 1/1966 Parrish15-552 3,252,626 5/1966 Belka 222-40211 3,256,549 6/1966 Evesque 15-56lX CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

